The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-06-15

Lincoln on the stump.
Mr.. Lincoln's appearance on the
stump is thus wildly sketched by an
old friend, the Rev. DIR. Geo. @. Moves,
OF Chicago: ~Mr. Lincoln in repose
was a very different man in personal
appearance from Mr.. Lincoln on the
platform or on the stump. when his
whole nature was reused by his mas
terful interest in the subject of his dis
course. In the former case he was, as
he has often been described, q man of
awkward and ungainly appearance, and
exceedingly homely countenance. In
the latter case, he was a man of mag
nificent presence and remarkably i'm
pressive manner. The writer retains
to this day very vivid impression of
his appearance in both these charac-
tiers, and both on the same day. 1t
was in Jacksonville, in the summer of
1858, and during the great contest
with Mr.. Douglas, when the prize con-
tended for was a seat In the United
Stases Senate. The day was warm,
the streets were dusty, and filled with
great crowds of people. When Mr..
Lincoln arrived on the train from
Springfield, he was met by an
immense procession of people on
horseback, In carriages, in wagons
and vehicles of every description,
and on foot, who escorted him through
the principal streets to his hotel. The
enthusiasm of the multitude was great !;
but Mr.. Lincoln's extremely homely
face wore an expression of sadness. He
rode in carriage near the head of the
procession. liking dust begrimmed
and worn and weary; and though he
frequently lifted his hat In recognition
OF the cheers of the crowds lining the
streets, saw no smile on his face, and
he seemed to take no pleasure in the
demonstration of enthusiasm which his
presence called forth. His clothes
were very ill-fitting, and his long arms
and hands protruded far through his
coat sleeves, giving him peculiarly
uncouth appearance. Though l had
often seen him before, and had heard
him in court always with delight in his
clearness and cogency of statement, his
illuminating humor, and his conspicu-
Gus fairness and candor-yet l had
never before seen aim when he APP
peared so homely; and l thought him
about the ugliest man / had ever seen.
There was nothing in his looks or man
ner that was propossessing. Such he
appeared as he rode in the pro-
cession on the forenoon of that warm
summer day. His appearance was not
different in the afternoon of that day.
when, In the public square, he first
stood before the great multitude who
had assembled there to hear him. His
powers were aroused gradually as he
went on with his speech. There was
much play of humor. Judge Douglas
has, he said, 'one great advantage OF
me in this contest When he stands
before his admiring friends, who gather
In great numbers to hear him, they can
easily see, with half an eye, all kinds
of fat Offices sprouting out of his fat
and jocund face, and, indeed, from
every part of his plump and we'll
rounded body. His appearance is,
therefore, irresistibly attractive. His
friends expect him to be President,
and they expect their reward. But
when l stand before the people, not
the sharpest vision is able to detect in
my lean and lank person, or in my
sunken and hollow cheeks, the faint
est sign or promise of an Office. / am
not candidate for the Presidency
and hence there is no beauty in
me that men should desire me- The
crowd were convulsed with laughter al
this sally. As the speech went on, the
speaker, though often impressing his
points with opposite and laughter pro.
voking stories, grew more and more
earnest. He showed that the Govern
ment was founded in the interest o,
freedom, not slavery. He traced the
steady aggressions of the slave power
step 10y step, until he came to dec are
and to dwell upon the fact of the ire
pressible conflict between the two.
Then, as he went on to show with won
derlul eloquence of speech and man
ner, that the country must and would
ultimately become, not all slave, but
all free, he was TRANSPORTED before his
audience His homely countenance
fairly glowed with the splendor of his
prophetic speech; and his body, nc
longer awkward and ungainly, but mas
tered and swayed 10y his thought, be
came an obedient and graceful instru.
ment of eloquent expression. The
whole man seemed to speak. He
seemed like some grand Hebrew proph.
ct, whose face was glorified by the
bright visions of a better day which lie
saw and declared. FROM BroUne's
"Erery-Day Life Of abraham Lin
onJ1o